Key ring



Oct. 28, 1952 l w, H, MEEKER 2,615,324

KEY RING l Filed July 8, 1950 I Wlam H. /Wee/fer if BY 4 9 f ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 28, 1952 UNITE-,D2 As,'IA'lfflas PATENT OFFICE KEY RING" -William-.HL Meeker,.Rochester, N. Y., assignor to HickokManufacturingr Co. Inc., Rochester,- N..Y-.,:a.corp orationof New York n y Application J une; 1950; Serial No. 1665947' (Cl. 'l0- 459) Claimsv This invention relates to f'animprovedkeyring;

Thefinvention is morefparticularlyadirectedto a key `ring. of substantiallyv circularf designrand embodying two 'main `component elernents;t one 'of which is in the form of a cut outormutilatedkey carrying disc, and the'other is in` the-form-of a hood, andthe said disc*- and .hoodbeingassociated together in such a; manner thatone ofthe said elements is. movablerelative to the= other in orderto exposea gap'for. placing afkey on .the keyvring or-removal of 'theI samer-therefrom; or for closing 'the-v` gap and thusmaintaining the keysV on the key ring.

The invention is more-particularly directed to :1k-keyA ring of the vaforesaidphooded .typeand wherein there is embodiedx a latch structure whichserves to positivelymaintain the .key holding portion of the key 'ringlinvagclosved position and,l when the'said key retaining or. holding portionsvthereof is in open positiomto receiveva,A key or keys or for the removal of arkey'or keys `therefrom,.the.said latch,` upon a simple movementof one a of the elements -relative to the other,- will result in the keyring being closed and serveito eiectively maintain the:keys"thereon.

Still more i specifically,vv thev present key rings are of the type that are constructed-of. thetwo main component elements, namely the-'mutilated or cut out disc like key holder and .retainer,: a hood element that coversaportionthereof, and these two elementsbeing pivotally connected together and embodying between the same, a latch structure which, when operated,y serves to. allow one of the lelements to be rotated relative tothe other to eitheropen or close lthekey ring.

There aremany. prior key -.ringstructures and, inthe main, they consist of' .eitherthe-A simple split ring type, and in someinstances,.the more elaborate. type involving.. pivoted.` and other catches. .or`v latches. associated :therewith and, of course, thetype of keyholders thatare embodied in. suitable cases such-.as metal orleather cases. While thepriorart keyfrings perform their intended functions. quitefsatisfactorily, the key :ring ofthe.presentsinvention,.due to its. simplicity` of. structureand` the. .novel combination ofthe component elements, issuch that it is capable' of easy` and simple manipulation for placing onorremoving from andthe retaining of keys that are-carried thereonwithout fear of loss or unintentional disconnectionloropening `of "a gap"- by .means of which on'ei. or morekey's c'ouldy be -acci'dentallygremov'ed or. lost from'tthe key rngf In the prior art' devices, 'some 'Y ol'*1 the i"lai'ic'li 2l structures and other. vpivoted .retaining means are such that they may be .accidentally moved or openedv and akey or keys lost therefrom where this doesnot happenvwith regardfto the present key,` ring.'

In view'of the foregoing-Q it (is-,' therefore an object of the invention to= provide a relatively simple key ring structure fabricated: from` metal or thelikeand includinga minimumnumbergof component and 'cooperative elements. thatl are com-pactly associated with eachother and serving to'v effectively maintain a` key or keys-thereon'.

Another object oftheiinvention is .to vprovide a key ring Aconsisting of two major component elements, oneof which isinpthe-form of asubf stantially circular disc-likencut out 'or' mutilated keyzholderfor carrier, and theother of the ele,-

ments being in the form of a 'substantially i arcuate shaped hood that is `pivotally or rotatablyr v associated-with the. disc-like key holder or re' tainer, and the disc-like element having a gap thereinA at one side-edge,v which is openedand closed vbyrnovement of one of ythe elements rel-k ative to the other.

Anothery object/'of'the'invention isyto provide tiVe to the other,. and further, wherein there is a novel latch .structurethat is in interengagement between the hood andthe disc-likekeycarfrie'i` or holder..

Anotherobject of the invention is toprovide a hooded` type keyvringvwherein the hood surrounds n a portion of a disc-like.v key'r retainer or. l holder, Y and where the hoodis moved relative .to thedi'scf u like key retaining holder or viceversa so -as-to eX.-

pose or cover a gap for reception of,keys therein andv which-.gap is in the disc-like key. holder or retainer and, is either opened or closed-by the said hoodas the case Amay be;v y y n Another 'object of the'iinvention isfto provide al` hooded. type keysy ring :wherein the hood` surkeys thereinand whichy gapy is in -the-di'sclike 2,615,824 t. .ff

vkey holder or retainer and is either opened or closed by the said hood as the case may be, and further wherein there is an interengaging lock or latch structure between the hood and the disca minimum number of parts all of which are prev fabricated and which can be made from a stamping loperation and capable of being 'readily' and easily assembled into the iinal key ring `formation.

With the above andl other objects in v iewi the invention consists in the construction andv novel combination and arrangement of parts herein-A after fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings'and pointed-ioutinthe claims hereto appended;'it being understood that various changes lin the form'fproportions, and minor details of construction, within lthe scope of Vthe claims, may be resorted to `without departing from'the spiritor sacricing any ofthe advantages of the invention.' 1 v In the drawings; l Fig. 1 isa front elevational view of thekey ring with a key chainattached theretov at one end and the Vother end 'of the'key chain having thereon a suitable fastenerl and showing the key ringl in its locked'or closed condition; l Y

Fig. 2 is a viewl similar to Fig. 1 but showing certain parts in"section and others in elevation and showing the key lring in an pen condition and Aexposing the gap into'which a key or keys may: bel inserted; A g

Fig. 3 is'a'n exploded perspective view of all of Y the component elements that comprise the key ring structure;

Q Fig, 4 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along the lines 4'4 of Fig. 1 lookingin the direction ofthe arrows;A I

Fig. 5 is a view similarvtoFig. 4 taken substantially on the lines 54-5 of Fig. 1; i ,f 6 is a transverse vsectional View taken substantially along thelinesB-V- of Fig. 1; and

`Fig. 7 vis a vertical sectionalyiew taken substantially alongthe Aline` I-.T of Fig. 1.Y

The invention will be'wmore readily understood by referring Nto the" drawings. in detailnwherein the same numeralspr characters denote the same parts or component elements in the several gures thereof.

The key 'ring is denoted generally at 8 and it Will be seen that,` as depicted, the exterior contour and general outline thereof is substantially circular anddiscflike but. of course, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to vtheprecise outline and contour or shape. The key ring consistsof` two major elements namely the disc-like cut out or mutilated key Vcarrier .or holder 9 andthe two substantially arcuate or sector shape hood ,sections I0 and II. Thewminor or remaining elements of the key ring include the latch lI2 and the spring I3 which` normally urges the latch outwardly ashereinafter more ing an' enlarged' central portion" Idd 'and Vreduced end portionsv I 4,-and the hollow rivet I5.

f 'Ihesubstantially disc-shaped and preferably of. This substantially circular cut out formation has a closed end I1 and an open end or key receiving and removing gap I8. Substantially centrally of the disc-like key carrier and holder there is a hub or bearing portion I9 which has an opening 20 therein, which opening is of a diameter to receive y the enlarged yportion Ida of the rivet therein. Thislbearing portion has an outer edge 2| and its oppositely disposed surfaces 22 are substantially smooth and nat. There is a cut out slot 23 in this disc, the inner end of Which 24 is irl-substantially vertical alignment with the opening 20, and this s lot 23 open at the periphery of vthis discas de onted at 25 and slightly inwardly thereof and'ron lboth sides, the slot is undercut as at 26, and "which'undercut formation receives therein a part ofthe latch I2 more fully described hereinafter. By forming the semi-circular opening I6 in the disc and, Ffurther, by forming the gap I 8, this, of course, results in providing a substantially semi-circular key `carrying vor holding arm'Z'IJZWhichhasa'free end portion 28 and the outer peripheral :portion ofthe same is cut away or notched to provide ashoulder 29 for a purpose later'describ'ed". 1

The latch' IZfand the spring I3 are so proporg tioned and dim'ensionedthatthe spring is posi` tioned -in 'th'e reducedV portion. 23V of the slotV and one endlthereo'f '30 restson the'closed end 24 of the slot 23, andthe otlieiendSI of the'spring I3 is positioned ina slo't or'recess 32 inthe bottom of the latch member *|21A This latch member I2 has similarly vformed side extensions 33, the shape of 'whichv are iii-"conformity with the 'undercut potios"25'formed-inthe slot' 23 and the' latch has a reduced headformation 34. Thus, when the spring II3, 'is'mounte'd in the slot 23 and the latch I2 is positi'onedin'the outer portion of the slot where the vur'idvercut formation occurs, the s'pringand latch' are' maintained in their proper association with the slot inthe disc-like key ring retainer: and holder. 4,It vis to be understood, of course, that theextensions 33'at the opposite sidesr of Ithe latch" I2 are so Vdimensioned with respect tothe undercut portion 26 of theislot', that'the latch'lz vwill be permitted to move in- Wardlyandgoutwardly in'this undercut portion of the slot.r Inother words, the undercut portion ZG-'oflthe slot 23 is such that it is of greater depth than the thickness or .depth of the extensions 33 of the latch I2." YIwill thus be clear that the keyY carrying and supporting element consists of a disc vhaving an arcuate rslot spaced fromthe periphery of the disc to form the key carrying or holding arm'y 21, Vand closed at one end and openl atthe'other end by means ofthe gap which provides an entrance to thearcuate slot I6. 'I'he disci is provided at a `point spaced from the closed end, of the arcuate slot I6 with a radial slotV 23 extending inwardly from the periphery oi thev discv and receiving the latching member for holding the hood in its open and closed positions. Thehood element 'ofrflthe vkey ring, asaforesaid, consists of the two ,arcuate or sector shaped sections I0 and II, which are substantially similarlyfformed but there necessarily being right and 'left' sectiona'the numerall indicating the left section andthe numeral lil 'indicating the right section. Each 'of these hood sections includes a 'substantially arcuate or sector shaped wall 35 and a'portion of the outer edge of each section includesa vcurved ange 36 and an integral out- -standing ear' 31, and-eachofxwhich ears has an opening 38 therein. Additionally, the outer edge portionSjSQ-.and 4I) of each ofthe hoodsections 5; I and II are free" `of 'an'y'flangev formations whatsoever', and intermediateoflv the same and b'ent inwardly', there is alcontinuancel off the aforesaid flanges 36. Further, each of'4 the sector orarcua'te shapedhood sections I0 and II inl clude at their apexes similarly formed caps denoted generally at 42, and these caps each in` clude a substantially circular'flange 43, and substantially centrally thereof, the capshave an opening 44 therein. These caps I42 are of Vconcavo convex formation and,of course, they are integral with the` sector or arcuate shaped hood sections I0 and II and at the apex,.so to speak, of these two sections.

The sector or arcuate shaped sections I and I I aresimply brought together on opposite upper sides of the disc-like key carrier or holder with the rivet I4 positioned therein and, when they are thus brought together, thefedges 45 and 46 of the flanges 36 and'4I, respectively; abut`and,'likewise`, the inner surfaces of the outstanding tongues 31 also abut and thisv results in the cap Iformations 42 surrounding the hub formation I9 and' aligning the openings 44 in these cap formations with the opening 20 in the disc-like-key carrierand holder 9 and also aligning the openings 38 `in the-ears 31 and, of course, when these two sector or arcuate shaped hood sections are thus brought together, with the reduced ends I4 of the rivet I4 projecting outwardly through.- the opening 44, the upper portion of the key ring is enclosed and, of course, likewise, the spring and the latch are also enclosed except for the head portion of the latch. In order to assemble the hood 'sections in their proper relationship with the disc-like section or member of the key'ring, preferably the enlarged central portion I 4a of the `solid rivet I4 is first inserted into the opening 20 with the reduced ends I4 projecting beyond opposite sides thereof and with these reduced ends extending through and beyond each of the lopenings 44 in the opposite sections constituting the'hood,` and the extreme ends of the rivet are' then.K upset to hold the sectional hood in place, and, additionally, these two sections of the hood are held togetherl by the hollow rivet I5 which may initially be flanged over as at I5', if desired, that is inserted in the aligned openings38 in the ears 31 and the free ends projecting beyond the same swaged over as at I5a. Thus, it will be seen that the hood section or element of the key ring and the disc-like key carrier or holder are fixedly and properly associated with'each other. The rivet I4 forms a bearing for'rotation of the disc 9 relative to the hood sections I9 and` II when they are brought together or vice versa.

When the enlarged-portiony I 4ais positioned in opening 20, the opposite ends of the said enlarged portion extend slightly beyondthe opposite side faces of the hub or central portion I9 of the key carrier disc 9, see Figs. 6 and 7, thus preventing any binding action between the hood and the key carrier disc 9.

It will be noted that, when the continuances 4I of the flanges 36 are vbrought together in abutting relationship, as aforesaid, there is thus provided an opening 41 in the hood section adjacent the abutting and riveted together ears 31, and adjacent the opening there is a closed portion 48 that is formed by the abutting relationship of the extensions 4I of the flanges 36, and, further, there is an opening 49 in this hood for a purpose later described.

By referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 6, it will be seen that, when the reduced head portion 34 is spring pressedoutwardl'y throu'gligtheopening' 49-iir5the substantially' straight-'- wall, the hoodA cannot be moved,1 relative to they disci-like elementori-'vice versawand,y inA other words,v these twozelements arelatched or locked together when they-arein the position as shownkin Fig. 1. However, jby simple depressingyoffthefhead v34 of .the latch with the fingernail or. inany other suitable manner, the'fhoodA then canbe i rotated on the -ri'vetl I 4 relative to the disc member and-,1 when `so rotated; the head .-34 of the Vlatch-ridesxunder-'thefelosed formationell of thefhood and is depressed-and-l w-henxit reaches the opening v41, it will,Vr of course, snap ;up'-intothat openingand, in this position; theggap I8vin-th`e -keyring is'open `as shown-in Fig. 2*:so that ga; keyor ,keysrmayfbe -placed zon orremoved from they curved arm -21 ofthe disc. It will be noted that the-topof--the head 34, as seen in Fig.; 2, has one portion thereof 34a inclined and, while the latch is in the lposition shown in Fig. 2,v it will maintain the gap'open but, no manual or deliberate depression of the head34. is necessaryrbecause ifthe hood be moved relativeto the discor vice versa, the pressure of this inclined portion 34aof/the head vwill result in the latch being automatically depressedbeneath the closedportion 48 and one of the elements is rotated relative to the other to effect the closed positionas showniny Figfl of the drawing. One of the reasons why the key ring, `when it is `inits locked orlatched position as shown in Fig. 1, cannot be opened to the position shown inFig. 2, vis thatv the shoulder 29 at the end of the curved or semi-circular arm 21 abuts the extreme closedend portion 5I, see Fig. 1. Thus, when the latchis in the position as shown in Fig. l, the shoulder 29 willfbe engaging the closed end portion 5I of the hood and one of the ele--L ments cannoty possibly beunintentionally rotated or moved relative to the other and the only way that these two elements can be moved relative to each other isby manually'depressing the head 34 of the latch with the fingernail or in any other suitable manner. y y.

AIrmayutilizethe key ring on an extensible typekey chain or on a more or less conventional key-*chain K` as denoted in the drawings.v One endv of the key chain has a connecting yring. 52 associatedtherewith and thisconnecting .ring 52passes throughthe hollow yrivet I5 and serves to-connectfthe Ione endA offl-the'chain to the key ringror, vice versa., `The other end 531 of the :key

chain has attachedthereto A.a fastener F, and which Afastener-.Lmay ibe secured to the usual` belt loop-hofagarment such as a -pair of trousers,y

or the like'G. -This `fastener-F is more fully de.- scribed in ra copending application, Serial No. 115,864, led September 15, 1949. Of course, I may use any type fastener in combination with a chain or an extensible key chain to which the present key ring is attached or associated therewith.

It will be understood that when it is desired to insert a key on or remove a key from the key ring, the elements are in the position as shown in Fig. 2 thereby exposing the gap I8 and this allows a key or keys to be removed or placed on the curved or semi-circular arm 21. When the key H is mounted on this curved arm, as shown in Fig. 1, it is properly held in association 7. with the keyv rngfand-r locked thereonffandfcanii'ct become accidentally displaced or removed therefrom.` -Y 1 s -I claim: y .11. A key ring comprising a vdiscprovided with a radial slot and having anarcuate slot spaced from the periphery of the disc 4and'forming-'a peripheral key holding arm, said dis'c being provided at one end of the arm with a peripheral gap communicating with and "forming an entrance to thearcuate slot to permit keys to be 'arranged onv and removed v:from said key holding arm, a hoodv having spaced sides and' arranged on the exterior of said disc and pivoted tth'e same subs'tantially-centrally thereof andmovable over the disc Ito cover and uncover the rentrance to the arcuate slot, an'd'latch'meansv located in said radial slot Vand arranged'toengage the` hoodfor holding the same 'in position for closing ythe entrance tothe arcuate `'slot and for also holding the hood in position for exposing said entrance to permit keys to be arranged onfandrernoved fronrthekey'holdingarin. K

A'2.YA key ring comprising a disc having an arcuate slot vspaced from the periphery ofthe disc and forminga peripheral key holding arm, 'said disc being providedrat'one endA of the arm with a peripheral 'gap' communicating with andforming an entrance to the arcuate slot to permit keys' to be arranged Aon 'and removedffrom said key holding arm, a hood having spacedsides and arrangedV on thevexteriorof said disc and pivoted to the same substantially centrally thereof and movable over the disc' to `cover and uncover vthe entrance-to the arcuate slot, and latch means separate fromthe disc mountedfbetween Ithe spaced sides of the hood fory movement relative to the disc and hood to' latch the hood'in position for closing the entrance't'o the arcuate-slot and forV also latching the hood in'position for exposing said entranceto permit keys to be arranged on and removed from thev key holding arm.

3. lA key ring including a substantially circular'dischaving an arcuate slot therein spaced inwardly kfrom its periphery and forming a peripheral key holding arm, the disc being provided at one end of said armv with a peripheral 'opening communicating with the arcuate slot, at one end thereof and providing "for key'sAtobe placed on and removed from said key` holding arm, and a sector shaped hood enclosing asector of the disc, the hood comprising' two oppositely disposed sections each 'including 'asidef' wall engaging one side wall of the disc V"substantially 'centrally' thereof, and each sectionyof YtheA hood having at its periphery a laterally and'inwardly extending curved ilange, meanssecuring the two sections of the hood together with saidfilanges in abutting relationship at theirouter free edges,

4the disc having an aperture centrally thereofj'and the 'side walls of the hood each having an aperture=in the apex portion thereof in registry with thev aperture'in the disc, and a rivet extending through theaperture in the disc and the apertures in the side walls of the hood and connecting the hood and disc for relative rotation providing for positioning the hood to cover and uncover said peripheral opening in the disc. 4. A key ring including a substantially circular dischaving an arcuate slot therein spaced inwardly from itsV periphery and forming a peripheral key holding arm, the disc being provided at one end'of said arm with a peripheral opening communicating with the arcuate slot at one end thereof and providing for keys to be placed on and removed from said key holding arm, and a, sector shaped hood of slightly greater diameter than the diameter of the disc, the hood having spaced side walls and a peripheral wall portion', the latter corresponding in curvature to the curvature of thev circular periphery of the disc, the hoodbeing pivoted at the apex portions of its side walls to thedisc substantially centrally thereof for movement relative thereto to positionsv to cover and uncover said peripheral open'- ing in the disc, the hood enclosing a sector of the disc and when positioned to cover said peripheral opening in the disc, the curved peripheral wall portion of the hood extending over the peripheral openingof the disc, and'latch means separate from the disc and mounted thereon between the side walls of the hood for inward and outward movement relative thereto and adapted to engage the peripheral Wallportion of the hood'to latch the same in position 'for closing the peripheral opening in'the'disc, and also in position for exposing said peripheral opening to permit keys to be placed on and removed from the key holding arm;

` WILLIAM H. MEEKER.

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